Romney strategist attacked Meg Whitman as a “vulture” capitalist

If Mitt Romney is feeling the sting of attacks (“Vulture Capitalism!”) on his career at the Bain Capital private equity firm, he should turn to one of his top strategists, Stuart Stevens. And think about California, where all trends begin.

We told you earlier about how Texas Guv Rick Perry has taken to calling Romney a “vulture capitalist” for his Bain work. Reminds us of the last time we heard the V-word dropped — when Steve Poizner used it in an attack ad called “Vulture,” about Meg Whitman’s ties to Goldman-Sachs during the 2010 Republican gubernatorial campaign in California.

You remember the ad. As vultures squawk and swoop around the screen, an off-screen narrator says that “With Goldman-Sachs, Whitman invested heavily in vulture funds profiting from California foreclosures.” (The ad was based on reporting in an award-winning story co-written by Comrade Marinucci and former Comrade Lance Williams.)

Poizner’s media strategist during that campaign: Stevens. Oh, and who is a top adviser to Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign? Whitman. Oh, the tangled Republican web. And yes, Poiz was a man ahead of his time.

Just to show that all roads always lead to California, here’s the OG “Vulture” ad: